How to Cut Pavers

Pavers add an attractive hardscape element to a landscape whether you use them for a walkway, driveway or patio. They are typically cut or molded from stone, bricks or concrete, and shaped into rectangles. If you want the edge of a paver surface to curve, or plan to use a pattern with circles or arches, some of the pavers will need to be cut to form tight curves. Cutting pavers is not complicated, but you should wear safety glasses for protection.

Chalk
Wet masonry saw
Safety glasses
Cold chisel
Hammer

Instructions

- 1
  Set the pavers on the curved site and mark them with a piece of chalk where the cut must be made. Extend the line down the sides and across the back as well. Note that you can only cut straight lines into pavers. If the curve is tight, draw two cut lines from the center of one end to the two outer corners. Once cut, eight triangular pavers fit together to form a circle; four will form a half circle.
- 2
  Slowly feed the paver into the blade of a wet masonry saw, applying even pressure to direct the blade over the cut lines on each side. The saw will only cut through thin pavers less than two inches thick, but it will make clean, deep-score lines around thick pavers.
- 3
  Lay the scored paver on a soft, flat surface like the round, or a scrap of carpet to prevent the paver from sliding.
- 4
  Place the pointed end of a cold chisel one inch in from the side of the paver. Hit the other end of the chisel with a lump, rubber-head hammer. Do this several times. Position the tip further down the score line and continue driving it deeper until the paver splits.
- 5
  Make the rough edges clean by chipping off remaining remnants with the chisel and hammer.

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